Packer for casing heads



L. F. BAASH ET AL PACKER FOR CASING HEADS Filed June 25. 1930 H p p y n i M A W vW v 6 D m a w r M C A Jm M [m a A1 6E fin fl uflul 1 m N M H w .Mmwuw l 5 Z 7 Jfl ZQQZ A A fly 5 aw 4/ w 6 5 a M m LAWRENCE F. BAASH AND ERWIN Patented Aug. 16, 1932 BUR-NS, OF LOS ANGELES,

OF LONG'.BEAGI-I, CALIFORNIA PAQKER non CASING HEADS Application filed June 23,

' This invention relates to a packing device and relates more particularly to a packer for use-in a well casing head. It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical and dependable casing head packer for preventing a Well from blowing I out through the casing. i

It is an object of the invention to provide a packer for a well casing head that may be quickly and easily arranged in an operating position around a drill pipe, or the like, extending through a casing head. i I

It is another object of the invention toprovide a packer or a casinghead that embodies expansible packing and includes improved means for expanding the packing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a packer for a casing head that is in the nature of a longitudinally split annular structure or assembly and that embodies effective means whereby the units of the'as sembly may be quickly and easily assembled around an object such as a drill pipe, or the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a packer for a casing head that is extremely simple and inexpensive of manufacture and which embodies but few simple parts.

Other objects and features of our invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention throughout which description reference is had tothe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a vertical detailed sectional view of the packer provided by the present invention illustrating it in a casing head and assembled around a drill pipe extending through the head. Fig. 2 is an enlargedlongitudinal detailed sectional view of the packer. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the packer being aview taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. '2. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse detailed sectional views taken as indicated by lines 4-4 and 55 respectively on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a bottom-elevation or plan view of the packer being a view taken as illustrated by line 66 on Fig. 2, and F ig. 7 is an enlarged Vertical detailed 1930. Serial 1a. 463,2

AND GEORGE B. GAR-RARID,

sectional view illustrating a unit of the latch means included in the present invention.

The packing device provided by the pres ent invention is the various suited for embodim a well casing dapted to be employed in s tuations and is particularly ent in a packer for usein head to pack off around a part or tool such as a drill pipe extending through the casing head. The invention is capable of embodiment in packers for use invarious types of casing heads. Throughout the following detailed description the invention will be disclosed as embodied for use in a typical and to pack off through the head.

in a form adapted type of well casing head around a drill pipe extending It is to be understood,

however,that the invention is not to be taken as limited to the described, by that eluding any features or may fall within particular form about tobe it is to be taken as inmodifications that thelscope of the claims. The casing head H illustrated in the drawing is adaptedto beapplied toan upper end of' a well casing. cludes a vertically The casing head. H indisposed tubular body 10 having a central longitudinal opening 11 for passing a drill pipe and various'other well drilling equipment. Thebody 10 may be connected with the well casing in'anysuitable manner and in the particular case illustrated in the drawing, the

body '10. is interna threaded for conne the'like, Eat the upper The upper portion of lower portion of the lly and externally screw ction with a coupling, or end of a .wellcasing.

the opening 11' is intended tocarry the packer for packingoif around the" drill pipe andv a beveled seat or convergent portion 12 is provided in the opening 11 for supporting the packer.

Openings 13 maybe provided through the walls of the body 10 to communicate with fluid discharge conduitsM. A suitable packer actuating or compresslng device may be provided in ing,

connection with the casing head. The casing head H shown and-more particularly the ating means on the 'head is of in the drawpacker actuthe type set forth in Patent, No. 1,539.236, issued to M.

S." Black, May 26, illustrated in the d 1925. The type of head rawin'g is provided at its the drill pipe P or other parts for upper end with a screw threaded sleeve having an inwardly projecting flange 16 for engaging a sectional or split ring 16 adapted to be assembled in the head. The ring 16 is proportioned to freely pass a coupling C on the drill pipe P to permit the weight of the drill pipe to be supported on the packer through the coupling C to compress or operate the packer.

The packer provided by the present invention is adapted to be arranged in the opening 11 of the casing head H and is operable to pack of? between the head and the drill ipe P, or the like, to prevent the well from lowing out through the casing. The packer is an annular structure or assembly and in cludes generally two separable sections or units A and B formed of an upper split collar 17, a lower split collar 18 and packing 19 arranged between the collars 17 and 1 8, and

includes means 20 for expanding the packing 19 upon a compression strain being applied to the packer and means 21 for releasably latching the units A and B together around a drill pipe P, or the like.

The split collars 17 and 18 are arranged at the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the packing 19 and are proportioned to slidably fit the upper part of the opening 11 of thehead H. The collars 17 and Bare longitudinally split at diametrically opposite points and are arranged so that their lines of division or separation are in longitudinal alignment. The lower collar 18 is shaped to seat on the convergent portion 12 of the opening 11 to support the packer in the opening. Recesses 22 may be provided in the lower side of the collar 18 for the reception of a tool or tools for handling the packer. The uppersid'e of the upper collar 17 is preferably made flat to effectively receive the flange 16 or like compression member. Screw threaded openings 23 may be provided in the collar 17 to receive lifting or handling tools.

The packing 19 is a longitudinally split annular body of packing material arranged between the collars 17 and 18; The packing 19 may be formed of rubber, rubber composition or anyother suitable compressible and expansible packing material. The packing 19 is longitudinally split at diametrically opposite points inlongitudinal alignment with the linesof the separation of the collars 17 and 18. The packing 19 is proportioned to normally slidably fit the opening 11 of the casing head and the central longitudinal opening 25'of the packing is adapted to normally freely pass which the packer is intended to pack around. 7 The means 20 forexpanding the packing 19 is operable to efiectively-expand the packing radially outward and radially inward upon a compression strain being put on" the packer. The means 20 is in the nature of and its lines of division are a wedge means. The means 20 may be provided on either one or both of the collars 17 and 18. In the particular form of the in vention illustrated in the drawing, the packing expanding means 20 is provided on the lower split collar 18 and includes an up wardly projecting expanding part or wedge projection on each of the sections of the collar 18. The projections 30 extend upwardly from theupper side of the collars 18 and may be integral with the sections of the collar. The wedge projections 30 extend circumferentially of the sections of the collar 18 and have upwardly converging sides. The wedge projections 30 extend into openings or grooves 31 in the packing 19. The grooves 31 are shaped to conform to the configuration of the projections 30 and tightly receive the projections.-

The wedge projections 30 may project a considerable distance upwardly from the collar 18 and seat in the grooves 31 so that the lower end of the packing 19 is normally spaced from the collar 18. The upper ends or edges of the wedge projection 80 may be flattened as clearly illustrated in the drawing. The grooves 31 are provided with extension portions 82 at or beyond the flattened upper ends of the wedge projections 30 to permit considerable upward movement of the projections into the packing without danger of cracking or fracturing the packing. The wedge projections 30 may extend circumferentially substantially the entire lengths of the sections of the collar 18 and the ends 33 of the projections 30 may be inclined or tapered upwardly and outwardly from the lines of division of the split collar 18. Upon compression of the packing 19 the convergent sides 34; of the wedge projections 30 force or expand the packing'radially outward against the walls of the opening 11 and radially inward against the drill pipe P while the ends 33 of the wedge projections expandthe end portions of the sections of the packing 19 into tight cooperative engagement. 7 j

The invention provides means for connecting the sections of the collars 17 and 18 and the sections of the packing 19 of the units A and B so that the units are in the form of unitary assemblies that are adapted to be easily handled. Dove-tailed tongues 35 may be provided on the lower sides of the sections of the collar 17 to fit dove-tail grooves 36 in the upper ends of the sections of the packing 19. The tongues 85 fit tightly in the rooves 36 to effectively connect the sections of the collar 17 and the sections of the packing 19.. Connecting members 37 in the form of screws are provided to connect the sections of the upper collar 17 and the sections of the lower collar 18. The screws 37 may have their lower ends screw threaded in openings 1n thejwedge projections :30tand m'ay' slidably extend through openings in packing 19 and upper collar 17. The heads of the screws 37 may be counter-sunk in openings 39 in the upper sides of the sections of the collar 17. The connecting screws 37 and the tongues 35 connect the sections of the collar and packing of the units A and B so that the units A and B may be handled individually. The means 21 for releasably latchingor holding the units A and B together around the drill pipe P, or the like, is such that the units A and B may be quickly and easily assembled in operating positions around the pipe.- The means 21 is in-the form of a latch means and'includes spring latches on one unit to cooperate with notches or sockets in'the other unit. In the particular form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, latches 40 are provided on the collar sections of the unit A to cooperate with or seat in sockets 41 in the collar sections of the unit B. The latches 40 may be in the form of substantially rectangular blocks carried at outer ends of leaf springs 42 projecting from the opposlte ends of the sections of the collars 17 and 18 of the unit A. The springs 42 may be countersunk in openings or recesses 44 and the latches 40 maybe carried so that they are normally below or flush with uppersides of the sections of the collar 17. The latch re ceiving sockets 41 are provided in the bottoms orinner sides of'recesses 46in the end portions of the collar sections of the'unit B. The latches 40 and the sockets 41 are positioned and related so that the units A and B may be readily assembled together around the pipe P, or the like, in a position where the latches 40 seat in the sockets 41. In practice the latches 40 at one end, say the lower end of the unit A, may be arranged in position in the sockets 41 at thelower end of the unit B and the upper ends of the units brought together to spring the latches 40 at the upper end of the section A and the sockets 41 of the upper ends of the un1t B. The springs 42 and the resiliency of the packing 19 operate to releasably retain the latch blocks 40 in retaining positions in the sockets 41. The latches 40 of one collar section may be released from the sockets 40 byimparting a blow to the collar section to compress the packing 19 of that unit to permit the latches 40 to spring out of the sockets 41. The units VA and B may be quickly and easily disconnected by droppingthe packer so that the lower side of the section of the collar 18 of unit A will strike the ground to compress the packing 19 of that unit and release the latch blocks 40 from the sockets 41. The packing 19 yieldingly holds the collars17 and 18 spaced apart in a position where the latch blocks 40 are held against displacement from the sockets 41.

The latch blocks 40 may be released from the sockets 41 by compressing the packing oi the unit B and at the same time striking a blow at the outer edge of one of the collar sections of the unit A or by striking a heavy blow on'one of the collar sections of the unit Awhile retaining the unit B stationary. By manipulating the device in either of these manners, the latch blocks 40 are caused to move vertically relative to the sockets 41 so that they arereleased from the sockets.

It is believed that the operation ofthe packer provided by the present invention will be'readily apparent from the foregoing detailed'description. Theunits A and B may be readily assembled around the'pipe P in the manner the casing head H. VVhenit is desired to actuate the packer to pack off around the drill pipe P, the clamping sleeve 15 or other suitable packer actuating device on the head, may be operated to engage the ring 16" to compress the packing19, or the weight of the string of drill pipe P may be put on the packer through a collar C to actuate the packing. Upon a compression strain being put on the packer in any manner, the packing 19is compressed and forced downward on the wedge projections 30 which expand the packingradially outward into tight sealing engagement with the walls of theopening 11 and inwardly into effective sealing engagement with the pipe P. Further, upon compression of the packing 19, the'tapered ends of the projections 30 expand the end portions of the sections of packing 19 into tight compressive and sealing engagement. The groove extensions 32 permit downwardmove ment of the packng 19 on to the projections 30 without danger of cracking the packing.

t is tobe noted that the invention provides a well casing head packer that is extremely simple in construction and particularly effective in operation The type of latch means 21 described above is easily and quickly operated to assemble or connect the units A and B together around the pipe P and may be easily released by striking or droppingthe packer, The screws 37 parts of the units A and B so that they are held against separation without interfering with theeifective compression and expansion of the packing19. I p a 7 Having described only a typical preferred form of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall withinthe scope of the following claims Having described our invention,-we claim:

1. A packing device of the character described including an assembly of a'ring of resilient packing,andfcollars at the ends of the packing -ring,"the assembly being longitudinallydivided into two separate units, and means for releasably-holding the units to.-

described above and lowered into 7 connect the various 7 gether including a spring on one unit, and a latch block on the spring adapted to coopcrate With a socket in the other unit, the re: siliency of the spring and packing operating to yieldingly retain the block in the socket.

2. A packing device of the character described including an assembly of a ring of expansible packing, and collars at the ends of the packing ring, the assembly being longitudinally divided into two separate units, means for expanding the packing ring including, a Wedge projection on a collar extending into the ring, and means for releasably holding the units together including a spring on a collar part of one unit, and a latch blockon the spring adapted to cooperate With a socket in a collar part of the other unit, the packing operating to yieldingly hold the said collar parts in position Where the block is held in the socket.

3. A packing device of the character described including, a ring of expansible packing, collars at the ends of the ring, a tongue on one collar extending into a groove in the ring, and means r"or expanding the ring including a Wedge projection on the other ring extending into a groove in the ring.

4. A packing device of the character described including, a ring of expansible packing,collars at the ends oft-he ring, a tongue on one collarextcnding into a groove in the ring, means connecting the collars for relative longitudinal movement, and means for expanding the ring including a Wedge projection on the other ring slidably fitting a groove in the ring. I

5. A packing device of the character described including a ring of expansible packing, collars at the ends of the ring, means connecting the collars "for limited relative longitudinal-movement, and means for expanding the ring including a projection on a collar having longitudinally convergent sides,

- the projection fitting a groove in the ring and normally holding the said collar spaced from the "ring. v r V r 6, A packing device of the character described including a ring of expansible packing, collars at the opposite ends of the ring, aidove-taiied tongue on one collar extending into a groove in the ring, a projection on the other collar having convergent sides and extendinginto a groove in the ring, there being a continuation of thegroove at the outer edge of the projection, and means connecting the collars for relative longitudinal movement; 7 1

7 A packing device of the character described including an assembly ofcollars, and yieldable expansible packing bet-Ween the collars, the assembly being longitudinally divided into separate units, and means for re- -leasablyconnecting the units including a spring latch on the end of one unit to coop- ,erate with a socket in an end of: the other day of June,

unit,the packing normally yieldingly holding the latch in cooperation with-the socket.

8. A packing device of the character described including, an assembly zof a ring of expansible packing, and collars at the opposite ends of the ring, and means for expand: ing the packing including-a wedge projection on one collar slidably fitting a groove in the ring and normally holding the said collar spaced from the end 01": the packing ring, the groove having an extension at its inner endadapted to receive the projection upon compression of the ring.

9. A packing device of the character described including an assembiyoi' a ring o t expansible'compressible packing and collars at the opposite ends of the ring, the assembly being longitudinally split into tvvo separate units, means for expanding the packing ring, and means for releasablyconnecting the two units including springs at the ends of a collar part of one unit, and blocks on thespr-ings adapted to be arranged in sockets atthe ends of the complementary collar part otthe other unit upon compression of the packing oi": the said other unit and flexing of said: springs.

10. A packing device of the'cliarracter described including a ring of expansib'le packing, collars at the opposite ends of the ring, a dove-tailed tongueand grooveco'nnection between one collar and the ring, aprojection on the other collarhaving convergent sides and extending into aflgroove in the ring and normally holding the said other collar spaced from the ring, and means connecting the collars for relative longitudinal movement.

11. A packing device of the character described including a ring of expansible packing, collars at the opposite ends of the ring, a dove-tailed tongue and groove connection between one collar and the ring, a projection on theother collar having convergent sides and extending into a groove in the ring and normally holding the said other collar spaced from the ring, and means connecting the collars for relative longitudinal movement, including a member attached to one collar and slidably carried in OPGIllIlgSlll thering and 'the other collar.

In Witness that reclaim the foregoing, We have hereunto subscribed our names this 16th 1930. v f LAWRENCE F. BAASH. ERWVIN BURNS. GEORGE B. GARRARD. 

